Thread: Event focuses on families divided by immigration laws

Event focuses on families divided by immigration laws
By Adriana M. Chávez / El Paso Times
Posted: 03/03/2009 12:00:00 AM MST


EL PASO -- Life for Gabriela Castañeda and her three children changed on Nov. 27, 2007, when her husband, Adrian Hernandez, was arrested by immigration officials after a traffic stop in Montana Vista.

Hernandez, who was in the United States illegally, was pulled over for driving 5 miles an hour over the speed limit, Castañeda said. Since then, he has been in a California immigration detention center.

Castañeda said her children, who are U.S. citizens, are suffering without their father. Like her husband, Castañeda said she is in the United States illegally.

Families such as hers, a mix of legal and undocumented residents, will be the focus of a Family Unity Immigration Campaign event at 7 p.m. March 13 at Templo de Alabanza, 2111 Wyoming.

The campaign is being spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., and aims to keep immigration reform on the minds of lawmakers, said Freddy Santiago, a Chicago pastor, who appeared at a news conference Monday with members of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes' staff and the Border Network for Human Rights.

"We need to put a face on this crisis" of splintered families, Santiago said during the news conference. "We must continue as Latinos and Hispanic people to make sure this topic is not forgotten about."

In a statement, Gutierrez said existing immigration laws have hurt families.

"Across America, parents and children, husbands and wives, are being torn apart by a system that values quotas over family values and which undermines our economic security in a time of crisis," Gutierrez said.


Not everybody is sympathetic with Gutierrez's cause. Groups such as the Texas Minuteman Project say immigration laws are sensible and should not be changed.

"The head of the household is breaking up the families when he crosses into the country illegally," said Shannon McGauley, president of the Texas Minuteman Project. "Those families are being broken up because of the decisions the parents make."

Organizers said some 1,500 people are expected to attend Gutierrez's campaign meeting in El Paso to share their experiences regarding immigration law.

Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com





More information

What: Family Unity community forum with U.S. Reps. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, and Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.

When, where: 7 p.m. March 13, Templo de Alabanza, 2111 Wyoming.

Information: Border Network For Human Rights




http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_11822537

Life for Gabriela Castañeda and her three children changed on Nov. 27, 2007, when her husband, Adrian Hernandez, was arrested by immigration officials after a traffic stop in Montana Vista.

Life for the Bologna family changed when their husband/father and their sons/brothers were gunned down by illegals. Something Gutierrez would like to ignore.

"We need to put a face on this crisis" of splintered families, Santiago said during the news conference. "We must continue as Latinos and Hispanic people to make sure this topic is not forgotten about."

Put these faces on the crisis:

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

Life for Gabriela Castañeda and her three children changed on Nov. 27, 2007, when her husband, Adrian Hernandez, was arrested by immigration officials after a traffic stop in Montana Vista.

Life for the Bologna family changed when their husband/father and their sons/brothers were gunned down by illegals. Something Gutierrez would like to ignore.

[quote:2ottjqj6]"We need to put a face on this crisis" of splintered families, Santiago said during the news conference. "We must continue as Latinos and Hispanic people to make sure this topic is not forgotten about."

Put these faces on the crisis:

[/quote:2ottjqj6]

DAMN GOOD POINT, REGGIE MAY!!!

I think they have a point, the illegals and their families should not be seperated..................they should all be reunited and stay in Mexico.

"Across America, parents and children, husbands and wives, are being torn apart by a system that values quotas over family values and which undermines our economic security in a time of crisis," Gutierrez said.

No, you dolt, if families are separated it's because the illegal alien parents broke into our country to have their children on American soil. This problem could be solved by simply doing something about the birthright citizenship law.

I am getting sick and tired of hearing about illegal aliens and their families being torn apart. They did this to themselves without anyones help. They chose to come to America illegally and just happened to get caught. Well those are the consequences of entering a country illegally. Tough luck. They have a choice to all reunite back at home wherever they came from. No one is stopping them.

I wonder if the lawmakers realize that if they allow illegal alien parents to stay just because they have anchor babies, then that tells everyone who wants to come to the US that all they have to do is get pregnant/get someone pregnant (whether the woman is legal or not) ASAP, to guarantee they can stay. I know the illegals are already doing this, and it seems to work for them, but if it becomes law, millions more will do it, not because they can afford kids, or really want kids, but so they can stay. Anchor baby citizenship needs to stop.